[JWolf]

Yes.

Horses for courses, though. Grado really likes a clean, low output impedance SS amp, as well as music that meshes well with their bright sound.

I really like acoustic guitar or solo violin with my RS-2i and a Lehmann amp; music with which the HD-650 does not sound great.

YMMV.

And with the Grado, bright and harsh.

 

[Letmebefrank]

Which leather pads are those? I love the look

They are the Brainwavz Sheepskin Leather Memory Foam Earpad.

 

[Letmebefrank]

These pads from ebay are very similar to the ones I bought for the plastic ring. As long as they have that plastic ring that snaps into the headphone you can cut the pads off and use the rings to adapt nicer pads.

 

[DavidA]

These pads from ebay are very similar to the ones I bought for the plastic ring. As long as they have that plastic ring that snaps into the headphone you can cut the pads off and use the rings to adapt nicer pads.

Thanks for the additional info, I guess when I need to change the pads on my HD650 I have a few options.

 

[Letmebefrank]

Thanks for the additional info, I guess when I need to change the pads on my HD650 I have a few options.

You're welcome! I never knew what I was missing with these real leather pads.

 

[mbusby]

Thanks for the additional info, I guess when I need to change the pads on my HD650 I have a few options.

I remove my pads with the rings, hand wash them in a mild soap, rinse and then throw them in the dryer. Good as new.

 

[castleofargh]

I remove my pads with the rings, hand wash them in a mild soap, rinse and then throw them in the dryer. Good as new.

I did that a few times, but the foam still loses thickness as time passes. I give up and get new pads as soon as my ear starts touching the inside of the headphone.

 

[gefski]

Richard Thompson with HD650s!

I thought artists usually used closed back cans in the studio.

 

[cskippy]

They usually do but if an artist has a request or preference, especially for a famous one, mixing engineers always try and accommodate. He's probably listening at a pretty low volume so bleed shouldn't be too bad. Also, look at the closed back cans sitting on the desk, probably was given those first lol! He might need to hear his voice "live" and sometimes even good studios can screw up live monitoring depending on the system used.

It also doesn't look like a serious recording session, more of a live jam or stream for internet radio or talk show etc.

 

[rikk009]

Never buy the pleather ones from brainwavz. They last me just 10 months.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Well, after much deliberation, hand wringing, graph looking, auditioning and etc. I have finally decided to pull the trigger on a pair of HD 650s.

Context:

I've owned lots of different IEMs. Etymotics and Sonys mainly. I've had various over ear cans but I hit a plateau with my current lineup:

B&W P5 (original series)
Sennheiser 598 Cs
Sennheiser 598 (original series)
Beyerdynamic DT990 Pro 250 ohm

I consider the 598 to be my sound signature reference. I run them through a Schiit Modi/Magni 2U stack and they sound excellent. I use the Cs version with my iPhone (highly under rated headphones) and the Beyers with my Onkyo TX-NR646.

After many many hours with all of these phones I found that the Beyers are a touch too analytical for my taste and the 598s, while giving me the basic signature I want need more bass and upper mid clarity. So the 600/650 seemed like the logical upgrade path. I chose the 650 because I feel that the Beyer DT990s fill my studio monitor niche. My stereo is driving Yorkville YSM1 studio monitors and the Beyers have a VERY similar sound to them. The HD600 moves more toward a flatter sound from there. But for this latest round of phones I wanted something with a more musical approach while retaining a professional profile. Fun, but not TOO fun.

B&H has them for $320 right now. Mine get here on June 7th. Right before my birthday! Can't wait.

 

[LazyListener]

@Surf Monkey Congrats on your purchase and happy birthday! Looking forward to reading your impressions of the 650.

 

[cbl117]

Deleted

 

[ubs28]

Richard Thompson with HD650s!

I thought artists usually used closed back cans in the studio.

Open headphones like the AKG 240, HD 600 and HD 800 are also used.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Open headphones like the AKG 240, HD 600 and HD 800 are also used.

Truth. Many broadcasters use open cans. I encountered the HD 650s while working in a recording studio on a CD my band recorded years ago. They used the HD 600 for musing/mastering and the HD 650 to double check their work.